Friction clutch



' April 2, 1940. w. s. wom-'RAM v 2,195,665

FRICTION CLUTCH Filed 'March 25, 19.39

Snventor Cttornegs Patented Apr. 2, 1940 PATENT OFFICE Faro'rioN c LU'rcn William S. Wolfram, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application March 25,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to friction clutches of the kind used to releasably couple the shaft of the engine of a motor vehicle to the input shaft of the transmission.

An object of the invention is to improve the driven member of such a clutch.

A more specific object is to improve the means whereby axially resilient expedients are used to insure smooth clutch engagement.

Other objects will be understood from the following description.

The drawing accompanying the description shows in Figure 1 atransverse section.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation, partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are sections on line 4--4 of Figure 2, showing the parts in two different rel.

tive positions.

Figures 6 and 7 are sections on line 6-6 of Figure 2 showing the parts in two different relative positions.

Figure 8 is a detail in perspective.

Numeral Il represents'the engine shaft to which is secured a flywheel I3 by fastening means l5. To the flywheel is secured a cover I1 to serve as an abutment for suitable spring means I9 by which a pressure plate 2| is pressed toward the flywheel. The clutch driven shaft 23 carries for rotation therewith a hub 25. A series of torque transmitting springs 21 transmit the drive between the driven plate, designated as a whole by numeral 29 and the hub 25.

The driven plate comprises a disc 3|. To its marginal edge are secured spring plates 33 and 35, these plates arranged alternately. .Plate 33 as shown in Figure 8 has an attaching part 31 secured at its ends 39 to the disc 3| by rivets 4I.

40 The spring plate 33 has anarrow neck 43 which.

connects its attaching part 31 with a coplanar region 45. Region is connected by an angularly extending region 4 1 with a region 49 which is parallel with region 45 but displaced axially 45 therefrom.

A slot 5I extends transversely .across region 49. Two parallel slots 53 extend through region 41. At the junction of portions 41 and 49 a slot 55 joins slots 5l and 53. As shown in Figure 3 50 the angular region 41 displaces region 49 toward the pressure plate. A friction facing 51 is riveted to portion 49 bymeans of a rivet 59 extending through an enlarged region 6| of slot 5I.

On the opposite side of spring plate 33 a friction facing 51' is secured to portion 45 by a rivet 62.

1939, Serial N0. 264,069

As stated above, the plates 33 are arranged alternately with plates 35. Each plate 35 has an attaching region 63 also secured by rivets 4l to disc 3l. At one end of region 63 there is a radial extension 65. This extension lies in the plane of region 63 which is also the plane of regions 31 and 45 of plate 33.' Facing 51 is secured t0 portion 65 at 61 so that the facing lies flat against coplanar surfaces of both plates. Plate 35 has an intermediate angular portion 69 and a at portion 1l parallel with portion 65. It also has slots corresponding to the construction described in connection with plate 33. Since portion 1| is coplanar with portion 49 of plate 33 this portion provides a flat surface for facing 5l, which is riveted thereto at 13. It will therefore be understood that each of the plates 33 and 35 has parallel portions displaced the one from the other so that both facings may be attached to each plate, there being angular regions 41 and 59, each extending from one fric tion facing to the other, the angular regions extending alternately, radially and tangentially.

When the clutch is engaged, the angular regions are flattened as may be seen by comparing Figure 5 with Figure 4 and Figure 7 with Figure 6. In this way resilient resistance is aorded tothe clutch engaging action of the Vspring means I9. The separable connection of the spring plates economizes production costs and the facings are carried wholly by these spring plates.

I claim:

l. In a4 clutch, a driven plate comprising a circular disc, and a plurality of spring segments distributed about the margin of said disc, each segmentl having axially disposed parallel portions with angular connecting regions, the angular regions of adjacent segments extending in planes angularly related to each other, one sloping radially, the other circumferentially and facings secured to opposite sides of `each plate, both facings being attached to each plate. l

2. In a clutch, a driven plate comprising a circular disc, a plurality of spring plates distributed about the margin of said disc and secured thereto, each plate having axially disposed parallel portions with angular connecting regions, the angular regions of adjacent plates extending in planes angularly related to each other, one sloping radially, the other circumferentially and facings secured to opposite sides of each plate, both facings being attached to each plate, one to each of the parallel portions thereof.

3. In a clutch, a driven plate comprising a circular disc, a plurality of spring plates distributed about the margin of said disc and secured thereto, each plate having axially disposed parallel portions with angular connecting regions, the angular regions of adjacent plates extending in planes angularly related to each other and facings secured to opposite sides of each 

